Improvement in lockets



T. L. MICHEL.

Lockets.. N0.155,96'3; I Patented 0ct.13,-i874.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE THEODORE L. MICHEL, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN LOCKETS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 155,963, dated October 13, 1874; application filed August 29, 1874.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THEODORE LOUIS MICHEL, of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lockets; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a new locket, the method of opening and closing being peculiar and very efficient in point of secresy.

The locket consists of the usual two sides turning upon a pivot concealed within the rim and beneath the surface. This pivot slides in a slot let into the side, and the locking is effectuated by sliding; one side of the locket, guided by means of the slot, along the other, and then a dovetail stud on one side pushes into a corresponding groove in the rim of the other side, after which the locking device comes in play automatically and the locket is a sealed book to all but the owner, and the beauties reposing within are sacred to prying eyes.

, Reference being had to the drawings herewith, Figure 1 is a view of the locket with the cap 01f, showing the locking device, in which A is the pivot and point of attachment the holds the two sides together, and is in form of a stud with the head partially cut away, giving it the configuration of acircular segment, thus providing a square side, on which plays the tumbler B, which is a round bar free to move. 0 is a T-shaped bar moving in a groove let into the face, around which is placed the spiral spring D, and is pressed in position by the bridges a a. The bar 0 is bent outward at the opening E in the cap, and terminates in a button or any ornamental device by which the opening E is concealed and the spring-lock operated.

Fig. 2 is avertical section, showing the relative positions of the pivot-stud, locking and opening device, and the dovetail stud and groove at the lower end, by which, when shut, the locket is prevented from opening. Fig. 3

is an end view, showing the dovetail stud and groove in the rim. Fig. 4 is a view of the locket when open.

The inside faces may be made any shape, at the fancy of the designer.

To open the locket, it is held horizontally, with the button underneath. Thebutton, being pressed forward along the face, draws the head of the bar 0 away from under the loose bar B, which, upon turning over the locket, falls away from its position in front of the stud-head A 5 then the lower side of the locket is pushed in the contrary direction, and the pivotstud, being free to move in its groove, slides along till the dovetail stud at the end is out of the groove in the rim, when the two sides of the locket may be readily turned upon the pivot and the interior exposed to view.

To look, slide the two sides back till th dovetail stud enters the groove on the rim, and, the locket being turned face upward, the loose bar B falls into position, thereby preventing the pivot-stud from moving. The T- headed bar springs back and keeps this loose bar in place, and the locking is done.

The locket may be made in any design, elliptical, circular, square, triangular, or any shape the designer may choose, and may be plain or ornamental in like manner. The receptable inside may also be shaped in any way, plain or fanciful.

What I claim as my invention is as follows:

1. In combination with the two sides of a locket, pivoting upon each other, the gravity tumbler-bar B and the squared pivot-head A, operating in connection with the dovetail slot and groove in the rim, substantially as set forth.

2. In combination with the loose gravitytumbler B, the T-headed bar O, actuated from the outside by means of a button or ornamental device and the spiral spring D, the whole operating substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 19th day of August, 1874.

THEODORE L. MICHEL.

Witnesses:

FRANK HARTMAN, M. DANL. OoNNoLLY. 

